Call to Order

 Mr. Penniman called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.

Changes to the Agenda

 The resolution entitled Tompkins Cortland Community College Campus Master Plan - Design of Athletic Facility was added to the agenda.

Approval of Minutes

 It was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mr. Todd, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the minutes of August 20 and 27, September 3 and 10, 2002, as amended.  MINUTES APPROVED.

Chair's Report
 
 Mr. Penniman had no report.

Finance Director's Report

 Mr. Squires reported he had a conversation this morning with a representative of the Town of Ulysses who said that municipality may be interested in looking at decreasing the amount of sales tax that they apply to the County budget by receiving its sales tax directly.  Mr. Squires said if the Town of Ulysses did this in 2002, it would appear the County's share of property tax in that Town would go up by approximately 16 percent in addition to tax rate set for 2003.   He said if the Town of Ulysses were to do this and the County adopts a large increase, there would likely be a lot of publicity about the Town of Ulysses' rate going up substantially.

Deputy County Administrator's Report

 Mrs. Smithers had no report.

County Administrator's Report

 Mr. Whicher reported all program committees have met and the proposed tax rate currently stands at 22.16 percent.  Mrs. Smithers said she is not clear at this point what the recommendations of program committees are on capital projects; therefore, the 22.16 percent figure is based on County Administrator's recommendations.  She noted any change to the capital program would alter this figure.

 Mr. Whicher also reported the Sheriff has had ongoing problems with a vehicle in the Sheriff's Department and is requesting permission to use rollover funds from 2001 to purchase a replacement vehicle.

 Sheriff Meskill said the Department presently owns a 2000 Jeep that has consistently had problems with overheating and has a malfunctioning air conditioning unit.  He said because this is the canine vehicle it has to have air conditioning.  He said he cannot get the Chrysler company to agree to replace the vehicle or pay for repairs; therefore, he doesn't feel it makes sense to continue to pay for repairs.  He said he believes the best option at this point is to strip the vehicle and liquidate it at an auction.

 Mr. Penniman expressed concern that rollover money was originally intended to be used to settle retroactive payments that would be a paid after the union contract is settled.   Mr. Meskill responded this concern and said he feels comfortable that he would still have enough rollover money in his budget to pay for both expenses.

 It was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mr. Todd, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to authorize Sheriff Meskill to proceed with use of rollover funds to approve this.  A resolution was not available; staff was directed to prepare a resolution and submit this item to the Public Safety Committee for approval.  MOTION CARRIED.

TCAT OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS

 Ms. Blanchard introduced Rick Carnrike, TCAT Controller.  She also recognized Representative Frank Proto, Chair of the TCAT Board, and said Representative Herrera also serves as a member of that Board.  Ms. Blanchard thanked everyone who attended the August budget presentation for TCAT and stated Mr. Carnrike has copies of that presentation for anyone who is interested.

 Mr. Carnrike referred to an Agency Program Description distributed to the Committee.  He stated the TCAT budget contains a one-third share for each of the partners contribution (Tompkins County, Cornell, and the City of Ithaca) in the amount of $506,023.  He stated pursuant to the Sales Tax Agreement with the City, the County will pay $364,000 to TCAT.  This makes the total allocation to TCAT by the County $870,023.  An additional $75,000 is paid directly to Gadabout Transportation Service, Inc.   Mr. Carnrike said the TCAT budget has increased by approximately eight percent.   This is because of contractual obligations with the U.A.W. and C.S.E.A. and high insurance costs.  At the present time insurance costs account for approximately 60 percent of the increase.

 Mr. Carnrike said in terms of S.T.O.A. (State Transportation Operating Assistance), TCAT will receive not only an increase, but a fifth-quarter payment that is expected to arrive in December.  He explained S.T.O.A., and said TCAT transports approximately 3 million passengers per year and receives close to 41 cents per person.  They also receive 69 cents per mile for 2 million miles of TCAT road work.   He said 2002 looks very good and they will be trying to use the fifth quarter payment to fund the 2003 to best extent possible.  Mr. Carnrike stated the budget proposal asks for the partners a three percent increase over 2002.

 He said in reviewing budget documents from the prior  year it appears the increase is for $27,000 because the Operating figure was low.  He said there was approximately $12,000 that was netted out of the operating assistance for 2002; therefore, the Over Target Request that states $27,557 should be approximately $14,000.   Mrs. Smithers said late in the budget process the TCAT budget required $12,810 to be added into the Capital budget.  It was not clear at the time that was part of the Over Target Request and included in the Operating Budget.  She said an assumption was made that this was part of their operating budget so the appropriation to TCAT was reduced by this amount and it was moved to Capital.  When this was done it meant the County's 1/3 contribution share was $12,810 less than the other partners.  Therefore, to bring the County up to the true partner's share for 2003 it appears to be a $27,000 increase.   She said she and the Finance Director have been working to resolve this.

 Mr. Penniman said it appears to him that the extra payment from the State forces TCAT to make a complex budgeting decision and asked how this is being handled.  Mr. Carnrike said the State is considering this money 2002 Fiscal Year income.  He said they are taking it as 2002 income, therefore, TCAT's bottom-line revenue over expense will be approximately $600,000-$700,000, depending on how much is actually received.  He said they have handle all insurance issues, changing requirements by having a safety and security department with training for bus drivers.  They have absorbed this in the operating budget no hiring and attrition.  They will be using that fifth-quarter payment to add to the four quarters that will be received in 2003 to balance TCAT's $8.1 million budget.  This would mean by the end of 2002 that payment would essentially be used.

 Mr. Proto noted there are three involved partner who each have three members on the TCAT Board.  He stated one partner cannot say they will not pay their share and have it made up by the other partners.  If one partners is unable to pay, the others do not pay.

 Mr. Penniman asked Mr. Carnrike if TCAT were going have to endure a cut in its budget, where would that be and what would be the impact.  Mr. Carnrike said if there were no increase from any of the partners in 2003 ($14,000 from each partner would equate to $45,000 is less revenue) the first likely use more of the S.T.O.A. money.  He said TCAT's long-term goal was to establish a reserve balance that is equal to approximately one-third of the operating budget (approximately $800,000).  At this point they are at $230,000.  He said there is no intention at this point to increase fares in 2003 and there are currently bus acquisitions contained in the budget that they hope would help lower repair bills.   Mr. Carnrike said if this were to happen there would be no specific cut; the organization would "tighten its belt" across the board and monitor spending more carefully.

 Discussion continued concerning TCAT's Capital Budget and the document entitled "2003 Capital Detail".   Mr. Carnrike stated the Capital Program basically contains two major bus replacement projects, the other small items include computer equipment, signage, shop and facility equipment, and short-term planning.

 Mr. Carnrike said TCAT currently has a fleet of 50 buses.  The replacement schedule TCAT has  with the FTA and DOT is to replace nine in 2002 and seven in 2003.  Once this is done, 1980's busses will no longer be part of the fleet.   The Total Capital cost is $5,061,590; with a local share being $476,259 of which the County would be responsible for one-third ($117,253).

 Mr. Joseph said it is important to note that adopting this Capital Program would mean adding $117,253 to the budget which is close to a one percent increase in the tax rate.  He said although it is treated as Capital, it is paid for in cash.

 There was a discussion about the intermodal transportation center.  Ms. Blanchard said the City is taking the lead role on that project.  She state if it moves forward and if the costs are manageable and the additional costs of operating the center can be balanced with revenues from other sources and within the TCAT operating budget, the project will continue to move forward.

 Ms Blanchard said she would like to see this Committee recommend the amount necessary for approving this year's Capital Program and allowing TCAT members bring information back to the Committee following the October 24 TCAT Board meeting where she expects the Board will receive information in greater detail.  Mr. Joseph stressed the important of examining the Capital money with the same scrutiny that is used in reviewing other budgets, including operating budgets.   Ms. Blanchard said that is the Board's intention and they are looking to follow a structure similar to that of Tompkins Cortland Community College.
 It was agreed the Committee would continue discussion on the Capital Program at a future meeting.

 It was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Ms. McBean, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the TCAT budget at last years level in the amount of $930,276.  It was noted this would reduce each partner's share by $15,000 for a total of $45,000.

 The following resolution was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Ms. McBean:

RESOLUTION NO.      - TOMPKINS CORTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS MASTER PLAN – DESIGN OF ATHLETIC FACILITY

 Mr. Haynes said the College needs this approval to perform design work on the athletic facility.  Assuming the project is approveD, this action would save approximately one-year of time on the project.  He said he is hoping S.U.NY. would get its approval for a Master Plan in the upcoming year.   He noted these are monies that have been collected from other counties for students who attend the College.   Mr. Booth questioned the SEQR action and asked if this could be looked into.  Mr. Haynes said he would into this.    Mr. Penniman spoke of the Master Plan and asked what the local share percentage of the project would be.  Mr. Haynes said the State says that percentage is 50 percent, although in actuality it is 20 percent.   This is because the College will be paying a portion of the project out of its chargeback account and will be fundraising to lower County's cost.  A voice vote resulted as follows:  Ayes - 4, Noes - 0, Excused - 1 (Robertson).  MOTION CARRIED.
 
WHEREAS Tompkins Cortland Community College completed a master plan study in September 2001 that addressed space requirements and needs of the campus, and
WHEREAS, this study was formally approved by the Tompkins County Board of Representatives on November 7, 2001 via Resolution No. 250, and
WHEREAS, the sequencing of the projects requires that the construction of an athletic facility and the movement of functions from the current building into the athletic facility be complete before the current building can be modified to accommodate expanding and changing academic programs, and
WHEREAS, the State University of New York recognizes the immediate need for the athletic facility and has indicated a willingness to make funds available for the design of this facility in anticipation of future funding for its construction, and
WHEREAS, the College and the sponsoring counties recognize that considerable time will be saved toward attaining occupancy of said facility by designing the facility in advance of receiving funding for construction, and
WHEREAS, the design cost, estimated to be $540,000, would be accommodated with $270,000 in State funds and $270,000 from the College’s out-of-county capital chargeback account, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Budget and Capital Committee, That the Tompkins County Board of Representatives authorizes the expenditure of $540,000 as stated above for the design of the athletic facility, contingent upon approval by the Cortland County Legislature, with the understanding that there will be no requirement for funding of the design phase on the part of Tompkins County or Cortland County.
SEQR ACTION:  TYPE II-20
* * * * * * * * * *

 It was MOVED by Mr. Todd, seconded by Mr. Booth, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the following resolution and submit to the full Board:

RESOLUTION NO.      - SCHEDULING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2003 TOMPKINS COUNTY BUDGET AND THE 2003 – 2007 TOMPKINS COUNTY CAPITAL PROGRAM

 RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Budget and Capital Committee, That a public hearing be held before the Tompkins County Board of Representatives at Boynton Middle School at 1601 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca, New York, on November 12, 2002 at 7:00 o’clock in the evening thereof concerning the review of the 2003 Tompkins County Budget and the 2003 – 2007 Tompkins County Capital Program.  At such time and place all persons interested in the subject matter will be heard concerning the same,
 RESOLVED, further, That the Clerk of the Board is hereby authorized and directed to place proper notice of such public hearing in the official newspaper of the County.
SEQR ACTION:  TYPE II-20

Adjournment

 The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
 
 
 

Respectfully submitted by Michelle Pottorff, Board of Representatives' Office